Structure Of Feeling:The Theoretical Pursuit Of Raymond Williams

Structure of feelings is a theoretical conception proposed by British cultural theorist Raymond Williams. For almost half a century, he focused his attention on this theoretical conception in his theoretical and critical practice, rethinking and reinterpreting it consistently. Actually, the theoretical evolution of Structure of feelings is not only Williams’ ways of confronting and dealing with the theoretical problems and challenges to the actual circumstance, but also the reflection of the wisdom of a British intellect. As a result, tracing and understanding the theory of Structure of Feelings is a process of reconstructing the spiritual history of Raymond Williams.From the logical standpoint, the conception of Structure of Feelings is a method of literary criticism, which endeavors to connect the literary experience and social experience. In the process of communicating with cultural sociology and cultural anthropology, Williams redefines the conception of Structure of Feeling, transforming the conception into an epistemology of understanding culture. Through dialogue with western Marxist theory, Williams further revises and enriches the theoretical intension of Structure of Feelings and reconstructs the cultural theory of Marxism by putting forward the theory of Cultural Materialism. Methodologically, the theory of Structure of Feelings emphasizes the material aspect of culture, taking language, aesthetics, form and medium as comparatively stable formation produced by the interaction of all kinds of social elements, including the institution, customs, notation etc. There is no doubt that it is a real breakthrough for traditional literary theory.This dissertation focuses on the theory of Structure of Feelings, trying to answer following questions:Why Williams is so persistent on the conception of Structure of Feelings? What problem is confronted each time when the theory of Structure of Feelings is proposed or revised? What is rejected? Why did Williams revise this conception consistently? What kind of theoretical standpoint and endeavor did the reconstruction of this theory show? Through dialogue with western Marxism and reflection on the theory, how did Williams reconstruct the cultural theory of Marxism? In Williams’theoretical discourse, how did he understand the literary theoretical problem of the relation between literature and language, aesthetics, form and society? What kind of interpretation and criticism did Williams make about the novels, dramas and pastoral poems in the history of English literature? Then I will make a comprehensive criticism on this theory and point out its theoretical insights and blind spots together with its revelations for the theory and criticism in contemporary Chinese cultural field.